August was an absolute flash, punctuated by an array memorable experiences and even more gorgeous beauty launches including the hotly anticipated Youthforia Date Night Serum Foundation, Clé de Peau Beaute eyeshadow quads, the first Lawless skincare formula, Monika Blunder Beauty lip liners, Make Beauty Infinite Hold Sculpting Brow Gel and more and I have thoughts and swatches of everything.
Kindly scroll on for more details and images as well as the Bottom Line…
August Beauty Launches from Youthforia, Clé de Peau Beauté, Lawless, Monika Blunder + Make…
I’ve talked about my love for Youthforia countless times here. Also on my Instagram and my YouTube channel as the Night Off Cleanser ranks amongst my favorites (I’m on tube #5). So many of you have tried it and love it as I do. Back in April, I attended a dinner with Youthforia founder Fiona Co-Chan. During an ardent discussion of foundation, she mentioned that she was working on a base formula to be launched later in the year. We continued to message about it’s development over the spring and summer. Now, I’m happy to announce that this sublime foundation is now available and I have swatches of all shades.
Youthforia Date Night Serum Foundation
The Youthforia Date Night Serum Foundation (also available at YOUTHFORIA and Credo Beauty) is luxuriously weightless and buildable with 68% skincare actives and a glass skin finish unlike anything I’ve ever tried (and, if you’ve read Beauty Professor for any span of time, then you know that I’ve tried a lot). It is fragrance-free with an impressively clean ingredients profile and comes in 15 flexible shades that span from pale ivory to rich deep brown. Additionally, the formula can be applied like a skin tint (1/2-1 pump) while also having the capacity to be built up to medium-full coverage (1-1 1/2 pumps is all I need for this effect).
Here are sunlight swatches of the Youthforia Date Night Serum Foundation (also available at YOUTHFORIA and Credo Beauty) on location in the desert:
- 110-fair neutral
- 120-fair neutral was cool undertones
- 180-light neutral with warm undertones
- 230-light neutral with cool undertones
- 245-light to light medium neutral
- 260-light medium neutral with warm undertones
- 310-light medium neutral with golden undertones
- 315-light medium to medium neutral
- 330-medium neutral with warm undertones
- 360-medium neutral
- 380-medium deep neutral with golden undertones
- 390-medium deep neutral with warm undertones (swatch missing)
- 400-medium deep to deep neutral
- 480-deep neutral with warm undertones
- 495-deep neutral with cool undertones
Youthforia Date Night Foundation
After testing it daily for nearly two weeks, I can confirm that it wears incredibly well, even in a hot and humid environment (I successfully road tested it in 115 degree Palm Springs weather) and can be slept in (!!) without adverse effects, even amongst the sensitive skin crowd. I buffer between shade 360 and 380 (especially during my time in the desert) but now that I’m headed into fall, a half a pump of 330 and 360 mixed together is ideal for my complexion. Akin to really good lighting, the glowing (without shimmer) finish that this foundation imparts is phenomenal and I am elated to see this formula come to fruition. In summation, Youthforia Date Night Serum Foundation (also available at YOUTHFORIA and Credo Beauty) is everything I hoped and more.
Book Break
During my (semi) down-time in Palm Springs, I had some rare reading time and embraced the latest from Caroline McBride, Four Seasons at Cutler’s. This modern romance features a restaurant publicist in search of “the one” while navigating complex work dynamics and luxurious global locations. A beautiful escape with relatable characters and situations, Four Seasons at Cutler’s offers an escapist world tour experience without having to dealing with TSA. Brilliant.
Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads
Next up, I’ve been quietly testing the new Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads (also available at Nordstrom, Saks and Clé de Peau Beauté) designed by Benjamin Puckey for the past month and am thrilled to finally be able to share swatches of this already oft-sold out formula. Named after radiant motifs of the sea, this elegant expanse of mini color stories feature three color saturated shades and a bouncy, creamy primer shade (always in the lower left corner) for endless combinations and flawless wear time.
Earlier this month, I got to spend some time on set in Santa Monica with Clé de Peau Beauté and Benjamin Puckey created some incredible looks on my eyes with the new shadows. It was such an engaging and enlightening experience and I can’t wait to share some of the video footage with you all soon.
Formula of Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads
From a formula standpoint, the Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads (also available at Nordstrom, Saks and Clé de Peau Beauté) are buttery, buildable, blendable and resist creasing, even over the course of a long day. I can apply them just as easily with my fingertips as I can with an eye shadow brush and, pro tip…the primer can also be used as a subtle highlighter. All of the quads are exquisitely effortless and wearable but some of my personal favorites in the lineup include 6 Caviar Reef, 7 Starlight Splendor (worn in the images at the end of this post and truly a handbag staple as of late) and 12 Purple Ocean Twilight (in action below).
// Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad Swatches //
- 1 Sand Dune
- 3 Sundried Driftwood
- 4 Ocean Sunrise
- 6 Caviar Reef
- 7 Starlight Splendor
- 8 Warm Ocean Sunset
- 9 Pink Coral Shells
- 10 Sea Grass
- 11 Azure Blue Sea
- 12 Purple Ocean Twilight
Forget the Filler
Adored for it’s iconic Forget the Filler lip products (the lip mask and lip gloss are forever on heavy rotation over here), Lawless is one of my go-to beauty brands as the makeup is opulent and high performance. Now, the line has added skincare to its lineup with the Lawless Forget the Filler Skin-Plumping Line-Smoothing Moisturizer + Makeup Primer. This lush, fragrance-free formula contains MAXI-YOUTH, which is clinically proven to improve skin elasticity while complex peptides reduce the appearance of expression wrinkles and make the skin look tighter and firmer. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a dinner to celebrate the launch and it was truly wonderful to see Annie and catch up on each other’s lives as we’re both dedicated moms of young daughters, passionate business owners and fervent beauty lovers.
I’ve been using the Lawless Forget the Filler Skin-Plumping Line-Smoothing Moisturizer + Makeup Primer steadily for the past two weeks and deeply appreciate its ability to hydrate on contact without feeling heavy or sticky. It leaves my skin smooth, bouncy and refined and also provides the ideal base for makeup. I will continue to be reaching for this utilitarian formula frequently this fall.
Monika Blunder Beauty Hot Line Lip Liners
For lips, the new Monika Blunder Beauty Hot Line Lip Liners are divine. The six creamy and pigmented pencils glide on smoothly and have a nourishing texture that really stays in place. I am partial to the pearly pink Davy and rich mauve nude Renae (worn in tandem at the end of this story) but all the shades are versatile and stunning.
Make Beauty continues to exceed expectations with every launch. Its latest, the Infinite Hold Sculpting Brow Gels, are equally excellent. This updated formula, which moisturizes and supports brow health while adding masterful hold. It comes in two shades: Cool Brown (a medium-deep taupe that is universally flattering) and Clear. Just a few swipes imparts depth and feathery definition that does smudge, flake or feel sticky; it may be my favorite brow formula yet.
A Somavedic Aside
I have been using the Somavedic Vedic for the past 5 months as a way to reduce oxidative stress and mitigate the EMFs in my house (transmitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi and household appliances) and, during this testing period have noted a calmer, more harmonized environment and better sleep overall. It’s aesthetically stunning and, due to its invaluable presence and portable size, traveled with us to Palm Springs for the week. The reviews for this model are incredible and currently, it’s 25% off for the month of August with the code VEDIC25.
The following images reflect all products in action in Las Palmas, Palm Springs…
// STYLE NOTES //
This outfit on repeat: black bikini top, Levi’s denim cutoffs, Dior dad sandals and the most glorious cotton buttondown made sustainably and locally by Wendy Glez (wearing a size 3…use Rachelanise for a discount site wide).
–Shop the Post–
Bottom Line
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the month, both personally and on the new beauty front and would love to know what caught your eye. Do tell and so glad you’re here!
Good things ahead, including a fresh YouTube video, more fall launches and some lifestyle content (supplements! professor life!)…cannot wait to share.
In the meanwhile, I post daily content on my Instagram and LTK shop so please make sure to follow me there, too.
Stay strong, seek wisdom, much love and more soon,
xx
–The Beauty Professor
**PR samples provided for review denoted by an asterisk (the rest purchased by me); however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally my own. © 2012-22 Beauty Professor® All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, reprint or republish content and/or photos without author’s written permission.
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